Jada Pinkett has revealed she will not be attending the Oscars, or watching it on television, in response to the lack of nominations for people of color.
The star posted a video on Monday - Martin Luther King Day in the U.S, voicing her thoughts on the lack of diversity in this years nominations at the Academy Awards.
Delivering a powerful speech, she said: 'I can't help ask the question: is it time that people of color, recognise how much power and influence we have amassed that we no longer need to ask to be invited anywhere.'
Scroll down for video
Boycott: Jada Pinkett has revealed she will not be attending the Oscars, or watching it on television, in response to the lack of nominations for people of color
The 44-year-old star went on: 'I ask the question have we now come to a new time and place, where we recognise that we can no longer beg for the love, acknowledgement or respect of any group.
'That maybe it is time that we recognise of we love, respect and acknowledge ourselves in the way we are asking others to do, then that that is the place of true power. I'm simply asking the question.'
Airing her thoughts on the Academy's neglect to nominate any people of color in the top categories she said: 'Here is what I believe, the Academy has the right to acknowledge whomever they choose, to invite whomever they choose and now, I think that it is our responsibility now, to make the change.
The 44-year-old star said: 'I ask the question have we now come to a new time and place, where we recognise that we can no longer beg for the love, acknowledgement or respect of any group'
She added: 'Maybe it is time we pull back our resources and we put them back into our communities and to our programs, and we make programs for ourselves'
No bad feeling; Jada added she had nothing but love for the Academy
Jada, whose husband Will Smith has received other award nominations for his role in Concussion, then inferred the only way to overcome the situation was for people of color to do things themselves.
She said: 'Maybe it is time we pull back our resources and we put them back into our communities and to our programs, and we make programs for ourselves and that acknowledge us in ways that see us in ways that we see fit, that are just as good, as the so called main stream ones.
'Here is what I do know - begging for acknowledgment, or even asking diminishes dignity, and diminishes power, and we are a dignified people and we are powerful and lets not forget it.'
'Let's let the Academy do that with all grace and love and let's do us differently. I have got nothing but love.'
Not happy: Jada had already taken to Twitter on Saturday saying she was not happy with the lack of diversity with the nominations - she is seen here she is seen at the Golden Globe Awards on January 10
Big words: The 44-year-old star hinted that perhaps some people should boycott the Oscars
Sending a message to Chris Rock, who is presenting this year, and has already branded the ceremony the 'white BET awards' she added: 'Hey Chris I will not be at the Academy Awards and I will not be watching.
'But I cannot think of a better man to do the job in hand this year than you my friend. Good luck and to the rest of you, nothing but love, always.'
Jada had already made her feelings clear on Saturday, in a series of tweets, saying: 'At the Oscars . . . people of color are always welcomed to give out awards . . . even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments.'
Her other half: 'At the Oscars . . . people of color are always welcomed to give out awards . . . even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments,' said the Gotham star; Will has been nominated twice before at the Academy Awards
The Gotham star added: 'Should people of color refrain from participating all together?'
Will was nominated for an Oscar twice: in 2001 for Ali (he lost to Denzel Washington for Training Day) and in 2006 for The Pursuit Of Happyness (he lost to Forest Whitaker for The Last King Of Scotland).
Jada has not been nominated for an Academy Award.
Her circle: Pinkett with Will and Empire actress Taraji P. Henson, who won Sunday at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel
The announcement of the nominees was followed by immediate backlash on Twitter, including the use of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite.
Many believed the stars of Straight Outta Compton should have been given a nod, as well as Will for Concussion.
Jada is not the only black actor to say they are boycotting this year's ceremony - Spike Lee, who has been nominated for a lifetime achievement award, has also said he will not be attending.
No he didn't: On the same day, Chris Rock called the Oscars - which he is being paid to host - the 'white BET Awards'
The Academy Awards will air on ABC on February 28 at 7 p.m. EST.
The Set It Off actress added, 'People can only treat us in the way in which we allow. With much respect in the midst of deep disappointment, J.'
For the second year in a row, there were no black performers nominated for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor or Best Supporting Actress.
This year's Oscars host, Chris Rock, also referenced the lack of diversity on Twitter.
He posted a 15-second promo clip on Friday with the caption, 'The #Oscars. The White BET Awards.'
This should be fun: The Academy Awards will air on ABC on February 28 at 7 p.m. EST
0 nhận xét:
Đăng nhận xét